Vibratory cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

AN IMPROVED APPARATUS DESIGNED TO APPLY SONIC ENERGY TO AN OBJECT FOR CLEANING PURPOSES INCLUDES A SOURCE OF SONIC VIBRATORY ENERGY POSITIONED IN VIBRATION TRANSMITTING RELATION TO A FLAT PLATE. A WORK CHAMBER, FORMED BY A PAIR OF GENERALLY FLAT PARALLELY DISPOSED SHEETS OF MATERIAL ARRANGED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER AND JOINED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THEIR EDGES, IS POSITIONED BELOW THE FLAT PLATE, WITH A RESILIENT VIBRATION-DAMPENING MEDIUM BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE PLATE AND THE UPPER ONE OF THE PARALLELY DISPOSED SHEET OF MATERIAL. FLUID COMMUNICATION IS PROVIDED BETWEEN A SOURCE OF CLEANING SOLUTION AND THE WORK CHAMBER, AND AIR UNDER PRESSURE IS LIKEWISE INTRODUCED INTO THE WORK CHAMBER. WHEN CLEANING SOLUTION IS INTRODUCED INTO THE WORK CHAMBER CONCURRENTLY WITH AIR UNDER PRESSURE, AND WHEN VIBRATORY ENERGY IS APPLIED THERETO, FOAMED CLEANING SOLUTION IS PUMPED OUTWARDLY THROUGH A PLURALITY OF ORIFICES PROVIDED IN THE BOTTOM SHEET OF MATERIAL AND THE OBJECT TO WHICH THE DEVICE IS APPLIED IS SUBJECTED TO VERTICAL PULSATING ACTION BY THE VIBRATORY ENERGY AND THE FOAMED SOLUTION.

Oct. 5, 1971 s. P. AURELIO ETAL 3,609,787

VIBRATORY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IIII! 'IIIIIIIIIII 54L VATORE F? AUREL/O GORDON C. ARMS TROIVG Oct. 5,197i 5. P. AURELIO ETAL 3,609,787

VIBRATORY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 8VIBRATORY ENERGY SOURCE 9Q,\ as a IN VE N TORS SALVATORE P. AUREL/OGORDON C. ARMSTG Get. 5, 1971 s. P. AURELIO ETAL 3509,78?

VIBRATORY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1969 3 Sheets-$heet 5 //VVE/V 70/?5 514L144 TORE P. AURE L /0 C ARMS TRONG United States Patent 03,609,787 VIBRATORY CLEANING APPARATUS Salvatore P. Aurelio, ChicagoHeights, and Gordon C.

Armstrong, Joliet, 111., assignors to Sonastream Corporation, Peotone,Ill.

Filed July 18, 1969, Ser. N0. 842,877 Int. Cl. 1308b 7/00 U.S. CI. 15-9812 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved apparatus designed toapply sonic energy to an object for cleaning purposes includes a sourceof sonic vibratory energy positioned in vibration-transmitting relationto a flat plate. A work chamber, formed by a pair of generally flatparallely disposed sheets of material arranged one above the other andjoined substantially at their edges, is positioned below the flat plate,with a resilient vibration-dampening medium being interposed between theplate and the upper one of the parallely disposed sheets of material.Fluid communication is provided between a source of cleaning solutionand the work chamber, and air under pressure is likewise introduced intothe work chamber. When cleaning solution is introduced into the workchamber concurrently with air under pressure, and when vibratory energyis applied thereto, foamed cleaning solution is pumped outwardly througha plurality of orifices provided in the bottom sheet of material and theobject to which the device is applied is subjected to vertical pulsatingaction by the vibratory energy and the foamed solution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to devices for applying sonic energy and more particularly to asonic energy cleaning apparatus and method adapted for use in cleaningrugs, carpets, upholstery, and other fabric or textile materials.

Description of the prior art Devices for cleaning fabrics such ascarpets, upholstery, and the like have heretofore generally employedmechanical scrubbing tools or brushes to apply cleaning solutions to thefabric. In certain rug and carpet cleaning appliances the cleaningsolution is scrubbed into the rug or carpet surface by action of thebrushes during which operation some of the fluid foams and turns tolather. The scrubbing action tends to rub dirt from only the uppersurface portion of those fibers in physical actual contact with thebristles of the brush. Further, cleaning action is dependent wholly uponthe detergent action of chemicals within the solution. Dirt at the baseof the fibers or pile is relatively untouched.

In order to operate a machine of the foregoing type, a relatively heavy,powerful motor is required, and the brush holding assembly is ordinarilyquite large. The machine as a whole has appreciable weight and isgenerally inconvenient to operate. Since a scrubbing action is dependedupon, the pile of the rug or carpet, for example, is brushed in thedirection of the mechanical motion of the brush holding assembly andbecause of the weight of the appliance and the fluid necessary for thisoperation the fibers are pressed flat against the carpet backing. Thisresults in only a portion of the pile being cleaned, with serious damageto the texture of the pile and the mechanical forcing of dirt and fluidto the base of the fibers and into the backing being a probable result.Despite finishing operations which include vacuum removal of excessfluid and dirt, and a brush or squeegee 3 ,699,787 Patented Oct. 5, 1971ice cycle to raise the pile from its compressed position, all of thedirt cannot be reached with these conventional appliances and methodsthereby leaving dirt at the base of the fibers, many of which are stillflattened and matted in the remaining fluid. Because of the rotary ofoscillatory mechanical motionof the scrubbing devices, numerous passesover the same relative paths must be made to assure proper coverage ofthe work area.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of prior art mechanical scrubbingarrangements, it has been proposed to utilize sonic energy as analternative method of cleaning such fabrics. One form of sonic energysource that may be advantageously employed is disclosed in Sawyer U.S.Pat. No 3,310,129, entitled Sonar Wand. The application of this sonicenergy source to the surface cleaning art is shown in Sawyer U.S. Pat.No. 3,357,033, entitled Sonic Surface Cleaner.

It has also been proposed that such a sonic energy source be used in asonic energy cleaning device for fabrics such as carpets and upholstery,as set forth in Sawyer U.S. patent application Ser. No. 642,077, filedMay 29, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,497,898, and entitled Fabric CleaningDevice. This device includes the Sawyer sonic energy source, a cleaningtool holder attached to the energy source at a single point, and a toolcomprising a perforated bottom accumulator chamber attached to the toolholder, with cleaning fluid being introduced by gravity into theaccumulator chamber.

While the last described Sawyer device performs in a generallysatisfactory manner, some operational difficulties are encountered.Because the cleaning solution is applied directly to the fabric surfacethrough the accumulator chamber, foaming or lathering of the solution isnot achieved to the extent it should be. Further, because of the pumpingaction which occurs when sonic energy is applied to the accumulatorchamber, solution flow is irregular, and backstreaming of dirty solutioninto the solution reservoir is experienced.

Accordingly, this invention has as its prime object the provision of asonic energy fabric cleaning device in which the disadvantages of theprior art mechanical and sonic energy cleaning devices are overcome.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved portable fabric cleaning appliance which makes use of sonicenergy in the application of a cleaning solution to the fabric.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedportable hand-operated fabric cleaning appliance which is substantiallylow priced, light in weight, and highly efficient in the employment ofsonic energy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedfabric cleaning appliance which is portable and easy to operate by hand,the design of the appliance being such that it consumes relativelylittle energy and can be moved about over the fabric surface withparticular ease.

A still further object is to provide a sonic energy cleaning appliancein which a source of pressurized air is introduced into a work chamberto which vibratory energy in the sonic range is applied, with the sonicenergy serving to modulate the air pressure so as highly to foamcleaning solution supplied to the work chamber, from which the foam isapplied to the fabric to be cleaned and thereafter subjected -to furthervibratory energy so as to deeply clean the fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects, advantages,and features may be achieved with apparatus adapted to apply sonicenergy to an object comprisnig a source of vibratory energy in the sonicrange; a generally flat plate provided in vibration-transmittingrelation to the source of vibratory energy; a work chamber defined by apair of generally parallely disposed sheets arranged one above the otherand joined substantially at their edges with a plurality of orificesbeing formed in the lower one of the sheets, the said work chamber beingmounted in vibration-transmitting relation below the flat plate byresilient vibrationdampening means disposed therebetween; a source ofgas; and pathway means providing communication between the source of gasand the interior of the work chamber and the source of fluid; wherebyvibratory energy and pulsating air may be applied to the object to betreated. Preferably, a source of fluid is also provided along withsecond pathway means for introducing the fluid from the fluid source tothe interior of the work chamber.

In its method aspect, the subject invention involves a unique method forcleaning carpet, upholstery, and other like materials includingcontacting the material to be treated with a work chamber formed by apair of generally parallely disposed sheets arranged one above the otherand joined at their edges, a plurality of orifices being provided in thebottom one of the sheets, while supplying fluid and gas to the interiorof the work chamber and applying vibratory energy in the sonic range tothe work chamber, whereby fluid and gas in a foamed condition is pumpedfrom the work chamber into intimate contact with the material to betreated; thereafter contacting the material to be treated with the workchamber while supplying gas to the interior of the work chamber andapplying vibratory energy in the sonic range thereto; and removingsubstantially all of the fluid from the treated material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of sonic energycleaning apparatus produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic side elevational view thereof, partiallyin section;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, illustrating apreferred source of vibratory energy;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof with certain parts removed;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the fluid and gas inletsinto the work chamber;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 5;

'FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a preferred work chamber;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom fragmentary view of another embodiment of the workchamber;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of another embodiment of thework chamber;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of yet another embodiment ofthe work chamber;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the work chamber inoperation; and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a modified workapplicator assembly in accordance with the present nivention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS substantially along Apreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises apparatus 20 forsupplying sonic energy to an object. As best shown in FIG. 2, apparatus20 comprises a work applicator assembly 22, a source of vibratory energyin the sonic range 24, a source of fluid 26, and a source of air orother gas 28. The foregoing principal elements are mounted in operativerelationship as hereinafter described in detail in order to provide aunique sonic energy applicator which may be usefully employed to cleancarpets, upholstery, and other related fabric materials or to applysonic energy to such materials in any desired manner.

Many of the elements of the apparatus 20 are mounted on an L-angle 30 inwhich is provided an annular opening 32. At the respective sides ofangle 30 end plates 34 are attached in order to give greater structuralstrength. Angle 30 has a pair of ears 36 provided thereon, and a rod 38is fixed between each of the ears 36 (only one of which is shown in FIG.2). A handle 40 is secured to the rod 38 by means of a suitable fitting42 and a U-shaped wheel support assembly 44 is secured at each of itsends to ears 36. A bracket 48 is secured between a collar 46 provided onhandle 40 and the center section of U-shaped bracket 44. A pair ofwheels 50 are rotatably mounted on the sides of bracket 44 as best shownin FIG. 1. As a result, the bracket 44, handle 40, and plate 30 arerespectively positioned in fixed respective positions such that when thehandle 40 is pivoted downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrowA in .FIG. 1, the entire unit pivots about wheels 50 so as to cause theframe plate 30 to pivot upwardly so that apparatus 20 may be rolled toanother position.

Secured to the horizontal top leg of angle 30 by suitable means is areservoir bottom 56 formed of glass fiber, plastic, or other suitablefluid-retaining material. A onepiece molded reservoir top 58 is providedso as to enclose the area immediately above bottom 56. Top 58 ispreferably formed of the same material as bottom 56 and has a slightlyoutset outwardly lower flange 60 adapted to nest snugly over adownwardly curled lip 62 provided at the periphery of bottom 56.Preferably, the curled lip 62 and the corresponding portion of top 58are joined with suitable adhesive material, such as epoxy adhesive, soas to provide a fluid-tight reservoir 64. An upstanding neck 66 isprovided at the top of member 58, and a suitable threaded closure 68 isremovably attached to the neck 66 so as to permit fluid to be admittedinto the interior of reservoir 64.

Depending flange 60 provides a protective enclosure for other elementsof apparatus 20 positioned below the reservoir 64, but it should benoted that flange 60 is maintained out of physical contact with any ofthe other elements.

Gas source 28 conveniently comprises a blower 69 secured in opening 32provided in angle 30. A blower manifold 70 is secured forwardly of theblower 69 and is adapted to provide direction to the gas generated bythe blower 69 in a manner specifically described hereinafter.Alternatively, gas source 28 could comprise a tank of compressed air orother gas. By reason of ease of operation and flexibility of control, itis preferred that blower 69 be employed.

A tube 72 communicates with the interior of manifold 70, and tube 72passes upwardly through respective openings in the top leg of angle 30,reservoir bottom 56, and through the interior of reservoir 64 to itstermination adjacent the neck flange 66. In this manner, as blower 69operates, air is bled into the interior of reservoir 64 so as toestablish a positive pressure differential between the interior of thereservoir and the atmospheric condition. A suitable check valve 76 maybe provided in closure cap 68 in order that pressure within thereservoir 64 does not exceed a predetermined safety level.

Also secured to the angle 30 is the source of vibratory energy in thesonic range 24, with a spacer 25 being interposed therebetween. Thissource, which is shown schematically in FIG. 2, may take any convenientform. For

example, it may take the form of a pneumatic vibrator and thus may usegas or air under pressure generated by gas source 28 in order to actuatea vibrator. Similarly, an electrically or magnetically operable vibratormay be provided and used as source 24. Substantially any form ofvibratory energy source may be used so long as it provides vibratoryenergy in the sonic range.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred sonic energy source 80 of the typedescribed in the foregoing issued Sawyer patents, reference to which maybe made for a greater understanding of the structure and function of thesonic energy source. For convenience, the structure and operation ofsource 80 will be briefly described herein.

Source 80 comprises a hollow shell 82, within which is mounted a motor84. The shell 82 is advantageously formed by respective lower and uppersections 81, 83. One end 85 of motor 84 has a resilient mounting 88. Atthe other end 86 of the motor, a motor shaft 90 is provided with aneccentric opening in a disc 98 mounted in a bearing 92 which comprisesthe upper end of a pedestal 94, the pedestal in turn beingsecured at asingle location to a block 96 integrally formed as a part of the lowerhalf 81 of shell 82. Block 96 is radially aligned with the axis aboutwhich the motor mass operates and is approximately in line transverselywith the center of mass of the motor. Bolts 102 fasten a base 104 of thebracket 94 to the block 96.

Accordingly, when the motor 84 is set in operation and the motor shaft90 rotates, the eccentric disc 98 is simultaneously caused to rotate inbearing 92. This operation generates a conical movement of the motorabout its longitudinal axis with the base of the cone being at theeccentrically mounted end and the apex of the cone being at theresilient mounting 88. The motor thus gyrates about an axissubstantially coincident with a line passing through the axis ofrotation of disc 98 and the axis of the opposite end 86 of the motor.The sinusoidal force thus generated by the gyrating mass of the motor ispassed through the pedestal 94 to the block 96 and in that way to theshell 82, which in addition to serving as a protective enclosure, alsomay serve to transmit vibratory energy to the block 96.

As noted above, however, substantially any suitable source of vibratoryenergy in the sonic range may be employed in accordance with the presentinvention. The terms sonic and vibratory energy are used herein broadlyand are intended to encompass all forms of energy, irrespective of howit is produced, which are capable of causing the work applicatorassembly 22, particularly the work chamber, to undergo a bellows-type ofpulsating movement as described hereinafter in detail. The energy sourceis in all events provided in energytransmitting relation to the block 96formed of metal or other sound-conducting material. Block 96 is in turnprovided in energy-transmitting relation to the work applicator assembly22 as best shown in FIG. 2.

The work applicator assembly 22 comprises a generally planar plate 110of metal or other vibration-transmitting material. A vibration-dampeningmember which takes the form of a pad 112, formed of polyurethane foam orother vibration-dampening material, is secured to the lower surface ofplate 110 by means of epoxy adhesive or by other means. A work shoeassembly 118 is positioned beneath pad 112 and is likewise bonded orotherwise secured in place. Thus, pad 112 forms the onlyenergy-transmitting connection between work shoe assembly 118 and plate110.

As best shown in FIG. 5, work shoe assembly 118 comprises a generallyplanar upper sheet 120 formed of semiflexible material (e.g., sheetmetal, glass fiber, or the like) and a generally planar lower sheet 122of similar material.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the edges 12 3 of lower plate 122 are curvedupwardly about its periphery and are joined to the edges of plate 120 bysuitable means (e.g., brazing, soldering, or epoxy cement) in order toform a work chamber 126. The edges of the lower plate 122 are curved soas to permit the work shoe assembly to smoothly slide over the object towhich sonic energy is to be applied.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate one form that may be taken by the assembly 22.Upper sheet is positioned immediately beneath the pad 112, and lowersheet 122 has an irregular or corrugated lower surface in which areprovided a plurality of orifices 124 for a purpose that will hereinafterappear.

The exact configuration of the work shoe assembly may be modified asillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, which illustrate a modified work shoeassembly 118' comprising a flat upper sheet 120' and a lower sheet 122in which are provided a plurality of countersunk orifices 124. The lowersurface of sheet 122' is otherwise flat. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a lowersheet 122, the operative central portion of which is corrugated. Thecorrugated sheet 122 is preferably employed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Substantially any configuration of the lower sheet 122 of work shoeassembly 118 may be employed so long as both the upper and lower sheetsare susceptible to flexure, so long as a plurality of orifices areprovided throughout sheet 122, and so long as a work chamber 126 isdefined by the space between plates 120, 122.

Means are provided for introducing air or other gas under pressure fromthe gas source 28 and fluid from the fluid source 26 into the interiorof chamber 126. As best shown in FIG. 4, a pair of flexible ducts 130lead from corresponding fittings 132 (only one of which is shown in FIG.4) on the blower manifold 70 downwardly to a fitting 134 projectingabove plate 110. As best shown in FIG. 5, fitting 134 has a narrow,constricted inner passageway at the point in which the fitting 134passes through plate 110. The lower portion of fitting 134 is joined tosheet 120 by soldering, brazing, or the like to upper plate 120, andfitting 134 is acoustically insulated from plate 110 by means of arubber insulating grommet 140. A fitting 150, having a downwardlyprojecting narrowed tip 152, is secured in an opening in fitting 134,and a flexible tubing 156 is disposed between fitting and a fitting 158which projects downwardly from reservoir bottom 56. A valve is disposedbetween fitting 150 and tubing 156 so that the flow of fluid throughtubing 156 and fitting 150 and into the interior of chamber 126 may becontrolled. Similarly, suitable controls are provided for the blower 28in order to control the emission of air to the manifold 70.

The presence of the lower projecting tip of fitting 152 in thecontriction in fitting 134 results in a Venturi effect such that whengas is introduced through fitting 134, a relative reduction of pressurewithin the tubing 156 is achieved so as to draw fluid through the tubing156 and from reservoir 64 to the chamber 126. In addition, as previouslynoted, air is bled through tubing 72 into reservoir 64 so as to furthermaintain a positive pressure directing the fluid into the interior ofwork chamber 126.

While the fluid and gas supply network has been described with referenceto a single inlet, as best shown in FIG. 4, two inlet networks areemployed, with the inlets 134 being positioned midway between theleading and trailing edges of work assembly 122 and on opposite sides ofthe sonic energy source 24.

When the source of vibratory energy is actuated through the use ofappropriate control means, vibratory energy is applied via the block 96to plate 110. Plate 110 in turn applies vibratory energy in the soundwave through the dampening pad 112 to the work shoe assembly 118 whichundergoes similar vibration. Because the lower sheet of material 122 ispositioned against the object to which energy is to be applied, the mostpronounced vibration is achieved with the upper sheet of material 120,but the two sheets generally move between the dotted line con- 7figurations shown in FIG. 15 in the direction of arrow C so as toachieve a pumping or a bellows effect.

Thus, as gas under pressure is introduced through the ducts 130 and asvibratory energy is applied, the actual pressure within the work chamber126 relative to ambient conditions varies and is modulated by thevibratory energy. A pumping of gas into and out of the chamber occursthrough the orifices provided in plates 122, which pumping directlyaffects the surface to be treated. When valve 158 is opened so as topermit cleaning fliud to be drawn (via the Venturi effect) and forced(via the positive pressure created in reservoir 64) into the workchamber 126, the cleaning fluid is foamed by the air and the pulsatingbellows effect within the chamber forces the foamed cleaning fluidoutwardly through the orifices in sheet 122 and downwardly into thefibers of the material to be treated. Because of the continued verticalpulsing cleaning effect, dirt or soil located throughout all of thecarpet fiber, for example, is loosened and swept away by the foamedcleaning fluid.

Instead of employing pad 112 as the vibration-dampening means, aplurality of snubbers 190 (see FIG. 17), preferably positioned at therespective corners of plate 110 and assembly 118 and secured thereto bymeans of bolts 192, may be employed. The snubbers 190 (formed of rubberor other similar resilient material) perform the same dampening functionas pad 112 and thus can be provided in place thereof. Alternatively, acombination of pad 112 and corner mounted snubbers 190 can be used asshown in FIG. 17. Of course other dampening means could be employed.

Where snubbers 190 are employed, by varying the resilience of thematerial from which they are fabricated, the amount of energy applied tothe surface to be cleaned can be varied. An alternative method ofaccomplishing the described adjustment function involves mountingweights 194 at appropriate positions (such as at the corners) on theplate 110, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 17.

A further preferred aspect of the present invention embodies theutilization of means for distributing the flow of fluid throughout thework shoe assembly 118. There would ordinarily be a tendency for suchfluid to be forced out through orifices located immediately under thefittings 134, and, in order to prevent this, the orifices positioned inthe area adjacent the inlet fittings 134 may be plugged or otherwiseclosed as is shown in FIGS. and 16 in order to prevent fluid in anunfoamed state from escaping from the interior at that point and inorder to encourage widespread distribution of the fluid throughout theinterior of the work chamber 126. Furthermore, the same objective canalso be achieved by the provision of bafl le means, such as the baflle170 shown in FIG. 5, which is adapted to deflect the liquid cleaningfluid inwardly toward the center of chamber 126 (i.e., in the directionof arrow B shown in FIG. 5) and away from the edge of the Work chamber126. Yet another approach for achieving an even distribution of thecleaning fluid is the provision of a further constriction 172 in fitting134 shown in broken lines in FIGS. 5 and 8 which functions in the samemanner as baflie 170 to direct the cleaning fluid inwardly.

While the work shoe assemblies shown in the drawings are allsubstantially rectangular and utilize a pair of air and fluid inletnetworks positioned on opposite sides of the source of sonic energy.work shoe assemblies of other shapes with one or more fluid and gasinlet arrangements positioned in a different manner may be employed inaccordance with the present invention.

In operating the apparatus of the present invention, the operatorpositions the device on the material to be treated which, for exemplarypurposes, will be a floor carpet. The apparatus is pushed over thesurface to be cleaned. The handle 40 of the device is provided withseparate controls 198, 199, 200 which selectively govern the operationof the vibratory energy source 24, the gas source 28, and the fluidsource 26 (via the valve 160). Typically,

an initial pass is made over the carpet with the energy sourceoperating, and with both gas and fluid being supplied to the interior ofchambre 126. As the device 20 is moved over the surface to be cleaned,foamed cleaning agent is forced in a substantially uniform mannerthrough the orifices in sheet 122 onto the carpet where it is subjectedto the bellows-type pumping action of the vibratory work shoe assembly.In addition, the carpet undergoes constant vibration which loosens dirtwhich is picked up and swept away by the pulsating foamed cleaningagent.

After the above-described inital pass is made over the carpet surface tobe cleaned, a second pass is advantageously made over the surface to becleaned with the air source and vibratory energy source operative, butwith valve being closed so that pulsating air under pressure andvibrational energy are applied to continue to clean with the previousfluid but with no new fluid being applied.

The final step in cleaning through the use of the method aspects of thepresent invention involves passage over the surface to be cleaned withvacuum means designed to suck the used cleaning fluid and dirt away fromthe carpeting. Such vacuum means may conveniently be provided in theform of a nozzle, such as the nozzle shown in broken lines in FIG. 2,which immediately follows the trailing edge of work shoe assembly 118.This vacuum means is independently controllable so as to operate onlyduring the final pass over the surface to be cleaned.

Another preferred aspect of the device and method of the presentinvention involves the provision of another vacuum nozzle similar tonozzle 180 positioned in advance of the leading edge of the assembly118. Because the vibratory energy applied to the carpet in accordancewith this invention results in a substantial loosening of dirt from thecarpeting fibers and the carpeting before fluid is even applied thereto,the surface may be vacuumed in advance of the application thereof offluid during the first pass, or, alternatively, the machine may bepassed over the carpet so as to dry vacuum the dirt.

The present invention thus provides a unique sonic energy apparatus forcleaning carpeting, upholstery, and other similar fabrics and a uniquemethod for thoroughly cleaning such materials in a minimum amount oftime and with a minimum amount of effort.

What is claimed is:

1. Sonic energy apparatus comprising:

a source of vibratory energy in the sonic range;

a generally fiat plate provided in vibration-transmitting relation tothe source of vibratory energy;

a work chamber defined by a pair of generally parallely disposed sheetsarranged one above the other and joined substantially at their edges, aplurality of orifices being formed in the lower one of the two sheets,

the said work chamber being mounted in vibrationtransmitting relation tothe plate, with resilient, vibration-dampening means being interposedtherebetween;

a source of gas; and

first pathway means between the source of gas and the interior of thework chamber,

whereby vibratory energy and pulsating air may be applied by theapparatus.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a source of fluid; and

second pathway means between the source of fluid and the interior of thework chamber.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the source of fluidcomprises a tank and further comprising third pathway means providingcommunication between the source of gas and the interior of the tank,whereby the fluid in the tank is maintained under positive pressure.

4. A device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein fluid distribution means areprovided in association with the work chamber in order to distributefluid throughout the work chamber.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fluid distributionmeans comprises a bafile member positioned adjacent at least one pointat which fluid is introduced into the interior of the work chamber.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fluid distributionmeans comprises closure means plugging the orifices provided in thelower one of the two sheets adjacent the point at which fluid isintroduced into the work chamber.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second pathway meanscomprises at least one outlet fitting on the source of fluid, at leastone tubing. and at least one fluid inlet fitting provided incommunication with the interior of the work chamber.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the source of gas comprises a blower and wherein the first pathway meansincludes a manifold provided in association with the blower, at leastone gas inlet fitting fixed to the upper one of the sheets andprojecting upwardly through an opening in the plate, acousticalinsulating means being interposed between the plate and the gas inletfitting, and at least one duct interposed between the manifold and thegas inlet fitting, with the interior of the gas inlet fitting beingconstricted at the point at which it passes through the plate and thevibration-dampening means, the fluid inlet fitting being secured in anopening provided in the constricted portion of the gas inlet fitting andprojecting inwardly and downward- 10 ly inside the gas inlet fittingtoward the work chamber, whereby a relative reduction in pressure in thesecond pathway means occurs when gas passes through the first pathwaymeans.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, and further c0mprising controlmeans for selectively actuating the source of vibratory energy in thesonic range and for selectively controlling the passage of gas and fluidinto the work chamber.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration-dampeningmeans comprises a foam pad bonded along its upper edge to the plate andalong its lower surface to the upper one of the two sheets.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of gascomprises a blower.

12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of vibratoryenergy in the sonic range comprises an electric motor one end of whichis mounted eccen trically and in vibration-transmitting relataion to theplate at substantially a single point located centrally thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD L. ROBERTS, PrimaryExaminer US. 01. X.R. 15-92, 320

